Cool Opening Tonight at Clarabella on the LES!

BUILDINGS by SHAUN KARDINAL

New to the Lower East Side art scene, boutique/gallery CLARABELLA is pleased to present BUILDINGS, the inaugural New York City exhibit from Seattle based photographer, Shaun Kardinal. Photographing rooftops has been a hobby of the artist's for many years. Though an avid digital artist in his teens, it was not until his twenty-third year with an antique medium-format camera in hand that Kardinal developed an absolute passion for the subject. It was the way the buildings looked as he gazed through the viewfinder, playing with the vibrancy of Seattle's sunsets, the richness of her summers, the austere dullness of her grey winters. It was a love affair with a new city encouraging familiarity, ushering these monoliths in as kin, good friends, integral parts of Kardinal's daily walks to and from work. In this way, his photographs are meant to be seen as intimate portraits.

These buildings, at once solitary and full of life, seem to play with and against each other: three skyscrapers playfully fall against one another; an isolated wall dares to stand alone; a telephone pole bisects a brick building, while sagging lines tease its rooftop; four more in four corners, never to embrace; another still, reflects on the day as the sun plays its final notes on a bright pink sky.

Clarabella, 279 E. Houston Street (between Clinton and Suffolk) NY, NY 10002

Showing from June 1 – July 31

Reception: June 28, 2007 from 7 – 9pm

Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-7pm

P.S.
Hope to see you there! I am juggling a few events tonight...but I'm hoping to make it!

TaTa, BG

Kate Moss for Topshop...Chaos in London as the Collection Drops!

From Fashion Week Daily:
"...outside crowds stood six deep and snaked around three full blocks, while photographers and press were relegated to standing on ladders to get their photo ops and stories...Only 200 guests were allowed in at any one time, and each shopper was limited to five pieces. Moss’ face was splashed across the covers of nearly every British paper and news and entertainment television program. Needless to say, the reaction to Part II of the Kate Moss Topshop launch—next Tuesday night at Barneys New York in Manhattan—will be of intense scrutiny..."

One week girls. One week.

The Scoop on a New Boutique Set to Open May 1st on the LES: Clarabella

Hey gals,

Just got the scoop on a new boutique set to open this Tuesday, May 1st. Erin Whelan who founded Clarabella, left a career in the music industry to unveil the store named in honour of her grandmother. "My hope is to create a space that draws as much attention to the designer as the product," says Whelan, who, through classes in book-binding, shoe-making, and jewelry
design, has become fascinated with process and design. The store will feature jewelry, accessories, and shoes in a gallery setting.

Keeping with the gallery theme, Clarabella will feature different
designers throughout the year. Some of the store's initial offerings will include:

Jewelry: Angelica Bergamini, Beth Lauren, By Boe, BB Designs, Carla Caruso, Devon Driscoll, Gypsy Born Designs, Judith Haas, Leoworks, Tamaura, and Zoe Chicco

Accessories: Andrea Brueckner, Brave Leather, Carla Beeby London, Crystalyn Kae, Kristin Aronsson, Modus/Basically Brazil, Nam Kim, and Tracy Tanner

Shoes: Mariana, Marcello Toshi Creazioni, and Tashkent by Cheyenne.

The store will also have space to highlight works by up-and-coming photographers and painters. The debut art exhibit features works by New York City poet and artist Seldon Yuan (showing through May 14). For the Grand Opening in late May, Clarabella will feature photographs and drawings highlighting projects by Oisin Clancy and Marc Ackerson, the architects who worked closely with Whelan to design the store's interior.

From the photos it looks like she's got some pretty cool jewelry offerings. Definitely worth checking out!

Clarabella - 279 East Houston Street, between Clinton and Suffolk -
(212) 979-0270
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-8pm; Sunday, 12pm-7pm. Closed Monday.

Canadian Restaurant Opens in the MeatPacking District

Yay, Poutine for everyone. Out of respect for my Canadian roots I had to let you all know that the first Canadian Restaurant, The Inn LW12, has opened here in NYC. It's funny I was actually walking by last week, when I had popped into Pastis for lunch, and was wondering what all the commotion in and out of that space was, now we all know! The food sounds like it will be amazing, I'm looking forward to checking it out. Touted to be one of the next 'hot places'...supposedly its Canadian/British inspired...love it!

The Inn LW12
7 Ninth Ave., at Little W. 12th St.; 212-206-0300

Roger Vivier opens on Madison Ave

Finally.

Roger Vivier opened thier new flagship store in NYC last week. The gorgrous classic square-toe buckle flats which the equally lovely Catherine Denvue made famous in 'Belle du Jour' can be found there. Exhibit A:


The boutique also features small leather goods, the new handbag line and sunglasses as well as lots of different shoe styles.

We can get our lovely flat fix without having to go to awful Saks (well at least here in NYC). Have I mentioned my loathe for Saks Fifth Avenue? Where to start? The pushy over-bearing cosmetics sales people, I swear it's like a video game trying to fight them off just to get to the rest of the store, and YES unfortunately I know of no way to avoid them, there is only one way to enter and its by having to walk through that first floor swatting them off (no matter which door you choose). Arghh. Anyway.

The new boutique was designed by cult French jeweler Herve van der Straeten, and has a very artistic, calm vibe. A glimpse into the lovely and serene (no crazy sales people here) new store freshly opened on the Upper East Side:



Roger Vivier
750 Madison Ave., at 65th St., 212-861-5371